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Helio Castroneves led a Team Penske run to the top of the speed chart at Sebring, Fla., on Tuesday. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

IndyCar: Team Penske, Castroneves quickest at day two of Sebring test

March 5, 2012

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Team Penske claimed the top three combined spots in overall time during the second day of Izod IndyCar Series spring training at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway on Tuesday.

Helio Castroneves led the day and the test with a best time of 52.1413 seconds (115.302 mph) around the 1.67-mile, 11-turn course. Will Power, who had to grab a fire extinguisher and help quash a fire in his car late on Monday, was second fastest at 52.2059 seconds (115.159 mph). Ryan Briscoe completed the Penske sweep with a best lap of 52.2072 seconds (115.157 mph).

Power said the Monday fire was caused by a fuel leak. His team was able to switch Chevrolet engines and return him to practice during the morning session on Tuesday.

Speeds were up dramatically in the second day of testing. Ryan Hunter-Reay had led the combined Monday session at 52.5826 seconds (114.334 mph). Five of the 10 drivers testing beat that mark on Tuesday.

"Overall it was a good day for the Shell-Pennzoil Chevrolet," Castroneves said. "Chevy did an incredible job. We are still developing the car. Still making little bits here and there. But, for spring training, I thought all of the Chevys are in good shape. Overall Team Penske is in good shape. We have to just keep pushing each other. Hopefully we can get what we want for the first race of the season."

Though the value of testing at Sebring isn't as beneficial as conducting spring training at a venue where IndyCar actually races, driver James Hinchcliffe said there are certain tidbits to be learned from the 1.67-mile course.

“This is the closest place we get to street-course testing because you can't go test a street course. They're not built until the weekend,” he said. “But, it's bumpy. There's a lot of surface changes and so there's definitely some stuff you can apply.”

Notably, he said, attacking certain areas of the Sebring track reminiscent to parts of upcoming race venues. Eleven of 16 IndyCar events will be contested on road or street courses.

“What we call turn one and two here is sort of like turn one and two at St. Pete, a tight 90-degree right into a slightly more open left-hander, so we definitely focus on that corner,” Hinchcliffe said. “And then turn four is a very slow, sharp 90-degree, big crown on the exit, which you see on a lot of street circuits. It's very Toronto turn eight. There are a couple corners we can be specific at, and even the hairpin is not too far off from the hairpin at Brazil.”